Got a chance to look at the offensive side of the ball on Tuesday, albeit briefly and on my iPhone but I picked up a few interesting observations to pass along.
– I thought Brady had an up and down game. There were some great throws. There were some that were off that he usually makes. And there were some bad mental decisions he usually doesn’t make. Still, the Pats won the game, but he doesn’t seem entirely lights out right now whether it’s due to the offensive line, the loss of Edelman/Lewis, or what. The bomb to LaFell was the best deep ball he’s thrown since last year’s GWTD vs. the Ravens to LaFell. The TD to Gronk was nails. The goal line interception is a throw he makes, like in the Super Bowl to LaFell for instance.
– Now Brady has to face a Rex Ryan defense without his best anti-Rex receiver and a rag tag offensive line. If ever there was a week to get Cannon and Vollmer back, this would be a good one.
– James White didn’t flash like Dion Lewis did but he was solid in a limited role. They certainly aren’t ready to thrust him into the fire. Rather they’ll work him in and he’ll go off in one of these random late-season games. He blocked well and came through with a clutch catch in the fourth quarter that everyone seems to be forgetting about.
– Amendola played another heck of a game, sparking the team yet again with a big play (punt return) then making the clutch catches at the end that Edelman usually does. I’m excited to see what he does in an expanded role over the last seven games.
– The offensive line competes hard, but they can’t avoid some tough breakdowns at times. All of them had instances of missed blocks and failed assignments. Again, Cannon and Vollmer asap please.
– I continue to believe Blount is better served in an early rotation as he never really got fully going against the Giants. I don’t know if there’s really an answer to that now with the roster decimated, but if they can’t get some quality carries out of Bolden or White, the run game could be vulnerable.